Day 1 Chennai :
Compass Representative will meet and assist you upon your arrival at the Chennai airport. Transfer to your hotel. Check in at hotel in Chennai.
The first British Warehouse came up in 1639 when the British acquired the sandy beach from the local Nayaks on lease. It was called

Your Tour

Day 1 Chennai :

Compass Representative will meet and assist you upon your arrival at the Chennai airport. Transfer to your hotel. Check in at hotel in Chennai.

The first British Warehouse came up in 1639 when the British acquired the sandy beach from the local Nayaks on lease. It was called Madraspatinam then. Later by 1654, the Fort St. George was built. Still later the neighboring villages were included in the city which came either as grants or gifts. Triplicane was rented from the Sultan of Golconda in 1676. In 1744 Robert Clive worked as a writer from the Fort, later to become a military man of British Army. The Fort House, which housed the Governor and his council, were added in the 17th Century, the Assembly Hall in 1910 and the Secretariat in 1925.

All the neighboring areas were merged into the city now known as Madras or as Chennai as it is officially known. Until Independence, Madras was the capital of what in British times was called the Madras Presidency, comprising nearly the whole of South India, including the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada speaking areas.

In the afternoon proceed for city tour of Chennai in the morning after breakfast.

Santhome Cathedral. Built by Portuguese in the 14th and 15th century, this Cathedral is named after St. Thomas. Historically important, it is one of the pilgrimages for the Christian community.

Fort St George, Chennai Tour PackageFort St. George, one the first few bastions built by the east India company, marks the beginning of Chennai as a modern city. It occupies a place of pride and prominence in Chennai. This bastion achieved its name from St. George, the patron saint of England. The state legislature and the secretariat are located in Fort St. George. It houses the St. Mary's church the oldest Anglican Church in India which was built in 1680 and the tombstones in its courtyard are the oldest British tombstones in India. The Fort Museum, once a building that housed Chennai's first lighthouse, first commercial bank and first 'club', is now a well-kept repository of tangible memories of early Madras.

Kapaleeswarar Temple Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kapaleeswarar temple has inscriptions from the 13th century A.D. The temple 'Gopuram' (tower) is in the characteristic Dravidian style of architecture. The walls and pillars of temple have very delicate and intricate carvings which depict the scenes from Hindu mythology.

Overnight will be at Hotel.

Day 2 Chennai / Kanchipuram / Mahabalipuram:

By Road 76 km in 2 hr

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Kanchipuram. It is a small rural town about 75 km from Chennai and serves as the district head quarters for the Chengalpattu district. Its economy is entirely dependent on tourism and the well established handloom industry. Silk sarees manufactured here are one of the best in the entire world. Is one of the India’s seven sacred cities it was the historical Capital of the Pallavas. This city is also a world renowned for the gorgeous hand woven silk. Saris of myriad rich colors, noted for their shine, finish and matchless beauty. The Exquisite silk saris are woven from the pure mulberry silk in contrasting colors and have an enviable reputation for lustre, durability and finish.

Enjoy the visit to the following temples:

Vaikuntha Perumal Temple: this is the one of the important Vishnu temple built by The Pallava king in the 7th century AD.

Kailasanatha Temple: built in the 8th century this temple is noted for architecture and Sculptures. There are 58 small shrines are situated around the main shrine as well as the Compound wall paintings of fresco style adorn the inner walls of the shrines.

Ekambareswara Temple: another ancient temple of the city dedicated to Siva. The 57 meters high Rajagopuram {tower} is one of the tallest in south India. The 2500-year-old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yields different varieties of mangoes. This temple has five spacious corridors {prakkaram} and a thousand pillar halls.

Varadharaja Temple: is massive and impressive edifice. The hundred-pillar hall Erected during the vijayanagara period in this temple is noted for its exquisite sculptures. The ornamental rings carved out of a single stone in a chain at the four corners are special Features of the hall.

Kamashi Amman Temples: this is one of the three holy places of sakthi worship in India the other tow are Madurai and Varanasi.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant and later drive to Mahabalipuram. Reach and check in at hotel.

A few miles south of Chennai, at Mahabalipuram, on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, a beautiful group of rock-cut monuments evokes the past. This ancient seaport was once the main harbor and naval base of the great Pallava Empire and is today the site of an enchanting seaside assemblage of temples and shrines. It was well known in the 1st century known to Greek traders, and was the Pallava’s second city. Though their power waned nearly 1200 years ago, they left a breathtaking legacy in four distinct kinds of sculpture, rathas (temple chariots), bas-relief sculptural panels, rock-cut caves, and free standing temples.

Seventh-century carvings of the Pallava dynasty include a series of freestanding boulders carved to resemble small temples and animals. Rock – cut caves and a masterful stone bas-relief are nearby. The 'Penance of Arjuna' relief, cut on two huge rocks, shows scores of figures of deities, people and animals including, according to one interpretation, the emaciated figure of Arjuna, the great warrior of the Mahabharata, standing on one leg and doing penance, praying to Lord Shiva for the strength to destroy his enemies. Sadhus of today perform this exact act of sacrificial devotion. On the adjacent beach stands one of South India's oldest temples, the Shore Temple, its foundations washed for twelve centuries by the frothy sea.

Enjoy the visit of the city in the afternoon. (It is a very small town so would not take time in traveling)

CAVES: There are nine rock-cut temples. The Mahishasuramardhini cave, depicting the goddess fighting a demon on one side and Lord Vishnu's cosmic sleep on the other, is a particularly remarkable one.

KRISHNA MANDAPAM: A bas-relief, notable for its realistic representation. The panel relates to one of the stories of Lord Krishna.

ARJUNA’S PENANCE: This is the world's largest bas relief measuring 27m X 9m. This huge whale-backed rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, birds and almost all of the entire creation. And, this is easily the pride of Mamallapuram.

THE FIVE RATHAS: There are the five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are also known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas – and four out of the five rathas are supposed to have been carved out of a single rock.

THE SHORE TEMPLE: This is one of the oldest temples. Unique about this temple is the fact that it houses shrines for both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. This belongs to the early 8th century AD and it is a classic example of the first phase of structural temples constructed in pure Dravidian style.

Overnight will be at hotel.

Day 3 Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry:

By Road 112 km in 03 hr

After a leisurely breakfast drive to Pondicherry.

Reach by lunch and check in at the hotel.

Beach, Pondicherry Tour PackageFrench dreams of an Indian Empire began and ended in Pondicherry. But in the scattered territories of the Union Territory of Pondicherry there remains what little there is left of the French influence in India and that makes the territory, especially its headquarters, Pondicherry, unique, something quite different from the rest of India. The Union Territory of Pondicherry comprises of 4 coastal regions of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Pondicherry is on the east coast about 162 km south of Chennai (Madras) located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where St. Agasthaya settled down.

Enjoy lunch and then visit the town.

Enjoy the churches, the French architecture and a visit to the paper factory.

In the evening visit a small fishermen village for a cultural interaction.

Enjoy the sea and the promenade.

Overnight stay will be at hotel overlooking the sea.

Day 4 Pondicherry – Tanjore:

By Road 160 km in 04 hr

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the ASHRAM.

Aurobindo Ashram is also known as “the city of dawn”. The place is 10 km north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Shri Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and matter. Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony.

Drive to Thanjavur enroute visiting the Brass factory at Kumbakonam.

Tanjore or Tanjavur as it was earlier called, was the capital of the chola empire from the 10th century to the 14th century A.D. later is become part of the vijaynagar kingdom, then passed into the hands of the Marathas and later still went to the British. For ages it has been the chief political. Literary and religious centre of the South. The celebrated temple Brihadeshra built by the Chola King during the 11th century is its major attraction. The Saraswati Mahal library, dating back from the time of the Marathas, containing a rare collection of books and manuscripts on paper and palm leaves. The home of carnatic music, musical instruments, dance, and the traditional Handicrafts. Tanjore is famous for the lord Brahadiswara temple {lord Siva}. Tanjore is the rice bowl of India.

Visit the following places after lunch.

The Palace – The Palace of Tanjore also makes an important tourist destination. The royal Palace near the massive Brihadeshwara temple is characterized by its vast corridors, large halls, shady courtyards and observation and arsenal towers. Built by the Nayak in the mid-16th century, the Palace was completed by the Marathas. The Durbar Hall of the palace still retains the grandeur of the bygone era. The palace also functions as a Royal Museum housing a diverse collection of royal remnants, compilations of the early 19th century, the king’s slippers, head dresses and hunting tools.

Saraswathi Mahal library – Located just by the side of the art gallery, the Saraswati Mahal Library has a huge collection of about 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. It also has some Tamil works including treatises on medicine, and commentaries on works from the Sangam period. It was built during 1700 AD. You can visit the nearby museum that houses some interesting exhibits like the entire range of the Ramayana written on palm leaf. Checkout the time and entry fee before you visit the Saraswati Mahal library The Art Gallery and the Saraboji palace – The Art Gallery is another must see of Tanjore. It has a rich collection of 250 Chola Bronze statues and 150 stone statues dating from the 9th to 12th century. These statues belong to the many groups namely the Bhairava, Umasahita Shiva, Kali and the Rama Lakshmana. You can have a look at all these wonderful collections by paying a nominal entry fee. large and excellent collection of chola bronzes, granite pieces. look for bhairavas, umasahista Siva, kali, somaskandha and the Ramalakshmana group.

Overnight will be at Tanjore.

Day 5 Tanjore – Trichy:

By Road 54 km in 02 hr

Trichy – Madurai: By Road 133 km in 04 hr

Enjoy the breakfast and drive to Trichy.

Srirangam Temple, Trichy Tour PackageSituated on the banks of river Kaveri, Tiruchirappalli, the fourth largest city in the state was a citadel of the early Cholas, which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy came to be occupied in turn by the Nayaka of Madurai, the Marathas, the Nawabs of Carnatic, the French and finally the British. But it was under Nayakas of Madurai that Trichy flourished and prospered in tit’s own right and grew to be the city that is today. Trichy is fine blend of tradition and modernity built round the rock fort Apart from the fort there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. With Excellent infrastructural facilities Trichy will serve as a good base to explore the South of Tamilnadu.

Sightseeing of Trichy would include visiting the Rock fort, a climb up its stone steps to the 'Hall of Hundred pillars' The Mathurbhuteshwar shrine and finally at the very top of the Rock Fort – a GANESH temple.

Visit the Island of Srirangam, a massive Vishnu Temple with seven walls.

Rock fort temple or Malaikottai: this at a height over 85 meters the main Temple built inside the Rock is dedicated to Siva and the Ganesha temple is on top of Rock open to all with great views over the city and the Cavery river The Most amazing fact about the rock is that it is one of oldest in the world – Approximately 3,800 Million years old which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older then the Himalayas Some of the inscriptions dating back to 3rd century B.C.

Proceed towards Madurai. Reach and check in at hotel.

One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. This was also the Capital city for the great Pandyas kings.

Madurai’s Main attraction is the Famous Sri Meenakshi Amman temple a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture with Gopurams carved from top to bottom in a breathtaking profusion of multicolored images of Gods. Tamil & Greek documents record the existence of Madurai from the 4th Century BC. The city was known to the Greeks through Magathenes who was their ambassador to the court of Chandraguptha Mauriya. This city was popular in trade especially in spices. It was also the site the Sangam the academy of the Tamil Poets. And Madurai is the centre of all the cities and Madurai is famous for the cotton Sungudi Saris.

Relax in the hotel overlooking the town.

Overnight will be at Madurai.

Day 6 Madurai:

After breakfast proceed for city tour of Madurai.

Sri Meenakshi Amman temple: dated back to 2000 Years back and designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayaka and built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayaka. The Temple occupies an area of six hectares. There are 12 temple towers (Gopurams). The outer towers are the landmarks of Madurai.

Thousand Pillar Museum: Located inside the temple and has a variety of collections.

Gandhi Museum: The Gandhi Memorial Museum is one of the distinct places to be visited in Madurai. This Museum is one of the rare living memorials of "The Father of India". The Museum is set in relaxing grounds and has a clear historical account of India’s struggle for Independence.

The Vishnu Temple: There is a Vishnu Shrine called Kudal Algar (Kudal is the former names this town) and it is said that Lord Vishnu came down to this place to give away Meenakshi to God Sundareshwara. The vimana or the tower of the god in the temple is of a very fine workmanship and is known as the Ashtanga Vimana. The Marriage of the Meenakshi is to have been celebrated on the day of Panguni Uttram generally occurring on the Full moon day of the month of Panguni (March – April). And is a very important Event in this place.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace: This Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with the help of an Italian Architect. The building we see today was the main Palace where the King lived. The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. This palace consisted mainly of two parts, namely Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa. In these two parts, there are royal residence, theatre, shrine, apartments, armoury, palanquin place, royal bandstand, quarters, pond and garden. King Thirumalai Nayak celebrated festivals like Sceptre festival, Navarathri, Chithirai festival, Masi festival and the Float festival. He conducted daily dance and music performances in the palace. This palace was destroyed by his grandson Chokkanatha Nayak and the valuables were transferred to other places. During the British rule, in 1822, Lord Napier made several renovation works. Then the palace was utilized to house some officials of the judiciary and district administration. After independence, this palace was declared as a national monument and is now under the care of the Tamilnadu Archaeological Department.

Thirupparankundram: located south of Madurai at a distance of 11 Km is the celebrated cave to lord Subramaniya (Lord Siva’s son) he is said to have married Devayana daughter of Indra, in this place and performed several of his miracles. 8th Century Pandyas Rock cut Cave is also here and can be visited.

Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam: Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a huge temple tank about 5 km east of the Meenakshi temple. The mandapam in the centre has an idol of Vigneshwara (Vinayaka). It is said to have been found when the earth was being dug out from here to build the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. So, the place attained sanctity and was converted into a teppakulam (tank). This enormous temple tank is fed by water brought from the Vagai through an ingenious system of underground Channels. King Thirumalai Nayak born in 'Poosa' Star so in commemorating the birth of the king “ Float Festival” is conducted in Tamil Month 'Thai' (Jan/Feb) in the tank in a colorful way, which attracts thousands of tourists.

Overnight will be at Madurai.

Day 7 Madurai – Periyar:

By Road 133km in 03hr

Proceed for Periyar after breakfast.

Periyar Lake, Periyar Tour PackageThe river Periyar is the longest river in Kerala. This is the only perennial river in South India with clean water. The river occupies an important place in the history of Kerala. In the Sangam age Tamil epics such as Chilapathikaram, ‘Akananuru’, ‘Purananuru’ etc much has been said about this mighty river, formerly known as the ‘Choorni Nadi’ or ‘Thamraparni Nadi’ (Sukasandesam –stanza 66). A land route existed in the Sangam age from Mussuris (present-day Kodungalloor) to Madurai, which passed near the banks of the river Periyar. The capital of the old Chera Empire presumably existed on the banks of the river Periyar. It is believed that there was a flood in the 4th century AD that severely damaged the areas along the Periyar and the people living there had to escape to safer locations, abandoning their homes and livelihoods. The flood of AD 1341 resulted in the closing of Kodungalloor port and the opening of a new port at Kochi. The huge landslide that began in the high ranges as a result of the heavy downpours sent massive flows of mud and sand which created an Island at the ‘Azhimugham’ of the Periyar which is now known as the Vyppin Islands.

Reach and check in at the resort.

Proceed for enjoying a boat cruise in Periyar Lake with lunch break. The most enjoyable part of seeing the wildlife is going around the lake in a boat. From the safety of a boat you can witness herds of wild elephants coming down to water and swim. The other prominent fauna to be seen are Tiger, Sambar, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Wild Pigs, Wild dogs, Porcupine, Lion-tailed macaque, Malabar Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Sloth Bear, Gaur and Black Langur (Monkey). Tigers and Leopards seldom come to the lakeside by day.

Relax in the evening and visit the spice market – the biggest wholesale spice market in Asia.

Overnight will be at hotel in Periyar.

Day 8 Periyar – Kumarakom:

By Road 175km in 04hr

Breakfast will be at resort.

In the morning proceed for a SPICE PLANTATION visit. This will be an interesting tour at one of the family farm houses.

Proceed towards Kumarokom enjoying the beauty of the traditional Kerala houses. You will also pass through rolling tea gardens and rubber plantations. Stop at a tea factory to see the tea – making process.

An unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lilies - this is Kumarokom.

Reach Kumarokom and check into a traditional houseboat of Kerala Style and go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat.

The backwaters act as a vital waterway for the transport of goods, people and their produce are often the only link between isolated villages and crowded towns. In Kerala, the total expanse of backwater stretches over 1500 km, with a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes from north to south. Alleppey which forms the main part of this network has the peculiar geographical feature of having the water in level with the land. This gives the advantage of getting a closer look at the village life on shore while on a backwater ride.

Talk to the crew and sip your tea while enjoying the backwaters and seeing life pass by. The meals and refreshments will be served on the boat.

Overnight will be at Houseboat.

Day 09 Aleppey – Cochin:

By Road 60 km in 01hr

Cruise through the villages after breakfast.

Disembark the boat at Alleppey.

House Boat, Aleppey Tour PackageAleppey is one of the most important tourist centers in the state, with a large network of inland canals earning it the sobriquet "Venice of the east". These large networks of canals provide Alleppey its lifeline. Alleppey was one of the busiest centers of trade in the past with one of the best known ports along the Malabar Coast. Even today it retains its charm as the centre for Coir carpet industries and prawn farming. Alleppey the ideal headquarters for backwater tourism as well as for visits to the lovely church filled town of Kottayam, and the town of Aranmula, famous for its historic Aranmula Snake Boat Race which is an annual event.

The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the world and became the first European town-ship in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century.

The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over, the town in 1795. During 1660's, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide - variously as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and so on. Today, centuries later, the city is home to nearly thirteen communities.

In the early evening proceed for a private harbor cruise. Enjoy watching the dolphins, the fishing island and the Bolghatty Palace. Cruise till the mouth of the sea and enjoy the sunset.

Return to the hotel and enjoy a seafood dinner.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Day 10 Cochin:

Breakfast will be at the resort.

Proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city.

Visit the following:

Old Cochin area – this is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. The Jewish community traces its history to nearly 2000 years ago. In 1948 the community numbered 2500 and today there are fewer that 30 people. The community is still centered round JEWTOWN where you will visit its crown Jewel, the Paradesi Synagogue. Built in 1568 and reconstructed after a Portugese bombardment in 1662, the synagogue is distinguished by its tile roof and bell tower. The small synagogue is also known for its hand-painted, willow-patterned, blue and white Chinese floor tiles, and the many brass and crystal lamps that hang from the ceiling. Later visit the interesting International Pepper Exchange, also located in Jewtown.

Chinese fishing nets – The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea. Learn the operation of the interesting Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles which work on the principle of balance.

Lunch will be at the harbour view restaurant in BRUNTON BOATYARD.

The other important places are the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow, Mattancherry Palace, etc. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450.

Feel the essence of Kerala in Kathakali Dance in evening. Overnight will be at Cochin.

Day 11 Cochin – Ooty:

By Road 280 km in 06hr

Drive to Ooty after breakfast.

The drive will be mostly through the rural villages of Kerala and then you would enter Karnataka at COIMBATORE which is a flourishing industrial city.

Drive through the blue – mountains then onto OOTY.

Ootacamund, Ooty or more recently Udhagamandalam, call it what you like, still translates to a little town set on the stepped slopes of the Nilgiris, the oldest mountain range in India. Located 2240 meters, above sea level, the soothing clime and rustic setting gift Ooty a charm of its own. The verdant tea gardens and the rolling hills exude a pleasantness that will calm the high-strung city dweller and soothe his senses with the fragrance of eucalyptus and sandalwood that hangs in the air. What’s more, the superb 300km drive from Bangalore to the hill station takes the motorist through two dense wildlife sanctuaries. We’ve been there and done that and we’re about to tempt you to do the same.

Visit a tribe close to your resort.

Centuries ago Ooty’s main inhabitants were the Toda tribals who used the green grasslands for grazing their buffaloes. The British ‘discovered’ Ooty in the early 19th century and thanks to a certain John Sullivan, a permanent British settlement came up in the cool environs.

Relax during the evening and enjoy the bonfire in the resort.

Overnight will be in Ooty.

Day 12 Ooty & Coonoor:

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Enjoy a short sightseeing of the town.

Botanical Gardens, Ooty Tour & TravelBotanical Gardens: The gardens consist of 22 hectares of beautifully maintained gardens which include numerous mature species as well as an Italian and a Japanese garden. A major attraction is the fossil tree trunk believed to be 20 million years old. The gardens host an annual flower show during the third weekend of May, when you can feast your eyes on a plethora of colour and buy exotic flower seeds at a bargain price. During this weekend, car parking is in a field a kilometer away, and is an uphill walk back.

St Stephen’s Church: This is the oldest church in Ooty and was consecrated in 1830. The huge wooden beams inside came from Tipu Sultan’s palace in Srirangapatnam 120km away, hauled by a team of elephants. The mortal remains of John Sullivan, the pioneer of Ooty, lie in the cemetery behind.

Take the toy train to COONOOR enjoying the scenery and the weather. Reach and enjoy nature in this small hill station.

Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. It stands on a lower ridge of the main plateau at an altitude of 1839 metres. Its climate is milder than Ooty. Surrounding the town are many picnic spots. In the heart of Coonoor is "Sims Park". It is a park cum botanical garden. Many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty are grown here. It is at an elevation of 1880 metres and occupies 12 hectares of land.

Some of the beautiful must see spots are:

Sim's Park The Park is situated in a deep ravine on the Northern side of Coonoor Railway Station at an elevation of 1768 to 1798 mts. The park can be divided into eight major sections. The natural shola with winding footpaths all over the higher slopes of the park is the most distinctive and picturesque feature of this park. This apart a number of individual tree specimens planted in a scattered fashion all over the place, lend a special charm to the park specially when they bloom in different seasons throughout the year.

Pomological Station This is one of the three experimental fruit gardens in the Nilgiris maintained by the Horticultural Department. The other two are Burliar and Kallar on the Coonoor - Mettupalayam ghat road. Apples, Plums, Peaches, Lemons, Apricots and Pomegranates are grown here for the purpose of research. Surplus fruits and fruit based jams are sold to the public.

Silk Rearing Station Adjoining the Pasteur Institute there is a Silk Rearing Station maintained by the Central Silk Board. The Sericulture experts at this station may be contacted for special assistance.

Laws Falls The Place is a beautiful picnic spot, situated at Coonoor – Mettupalayam Road at the distance of 7 Km from Coonoor. The height of the falls is about 180 feet. It is a paradise for Naturalists.

Lamb's Rock It is 8 Km from Coonoor on the way to Dolphin's Nose. It commands a grand view of the Coimbatore Plains. It is a favorite place for tourists.

Lady Canning's Seat From Coonoor it is 9 Km. It is marked by a small house and commands panoramic view of the tea estates and the plains.

Dolphin's Nose The view point is 10 Km from the town. The Nose is a unique rock of tremendous proportions which looks like a Dolphin.

Return by the evening and overnight will be in Ooty.

Day 13 Ooty – Mysore:

By Road 200 km in 05 hr

Breakfast will be at the resort.

Drive to Mysore.

It is again a scenic drive through hills and forests.

Once you enter the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary limit, the road is almost straight, flanked on both sides by a dense forest. Seven and a half kilometres after the Bandipur reception centre, the road crosses over into Tamil Nadu and the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Reach Mysore and check in at hotel.

Mysore Palace, Mysore Tour & TravelMysore city was the capital of the old royal Mysore province. The word Mysore expands to "Mahishasurana Ooru" which means the town of Mahishasura. The story goes that the demon Mahishasura was killed by goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi hill near Mysore, and hence the name. Ever since, the Mysore royal family has worshipped Chamundeshwari as the palace deity. Hills dedicated to her stand at the eastern end of Mysore town today.

To the people of India the word Mysore is synonymous with Sandalwood, silk and fine inlay-work using ivory. It is the home of incense sticks dipped in sandalwood oil perfume base and has two well known incense factories - the Aravinda Parimala and the Vasu and Cycle brand (together these two account for 70% of the incense stick export from India). Mysore is also the home of many well regarded musicians and artists. It is even today the hub of the tourist map of Karnataka. Nearby are several places of interest to visitors, some of these are Brindavan Gardens, Srirangapattana, Rangana Tittu bird sanctuary, Chamundi Hills, Nanjanagudu, Bandipur forest reserve, Shivanasamudra falls, and Talakaadu.

In the afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city.

Within the town are several places of interest. The grand palace with its four arched entrances stands at the centre of the town. Liberally covered with golden domes and home to the most expensive royal chair (Simhasana), made of gold and studded with diamond and precious stones, this palace rivals the best in the world. During weekends the whole palace is lit with thousands of lights, a great sight. Saint Philomina's church is a fine cathedral dating back to the 18th century. The Venkatappa art gallary has inspired many an artist and conducts courses in traditional painting, drawing and woodwork. It is also the birth-place for the Mysore wooden toys, which are exported worldwide.

Visit the LALITHA MAHAL Palace. Its main staircase built with white marble, and its front-end gardens, make the Lalitha Mahal a place to visit and enjoy.

In the evening visit Chamundi Hills - Towering over the city, these hills are 13 km away from Mysore. Halfway-up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 m monolith. On the top is the BRINDAVAN GARDENS which is quite a sight in the evenings.

Overnight will be in Mysore.

Day 14 Mysore – Bangalore:

By Road 150 km in 04 hr

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Visit Sir Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery – Housed in the Jaganmohan Palace, this gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1875, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore gold leaf style of painting.

Start for Bangalore after lunch.

On the way visit Srirangapatnam – 16 km before Mysore, this fort was the stronghold of Tipu Sultan, son of Haider Ali. Tipu made a last minute ditch against the British in 1799 before surrendering his kingdom. Among the many fort buildings still intact, are Tipu's airy Summer Palace and his tomb at the Darya Daulat Bagh (garden). Here, is also the celebrated Sri Ranganatha Temple.

Reach Bangalore by evening.

Cubbon Park, Bangalore Tour PackageA major industrial and commercial center, with scientific and research activity, Bangalore is multifaceted: modern marvels, historical monuments, bustling shopping plazas, a race course and golf courses. Called the Silicon Valley of India for its growing software industry, it is also known as the city of draught beer. Bangalore is capital of Karnataka which harbours a diversity of interests such as the ruins of Vijaynagar, sculptures of Belur and Halebid, mausoleum of Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, golden sands of Karavalli, proud hills of Kodagu, forests of Bandipur, Nagarhole and Bannerghatta, and Chikmagalur with its mountains and coffee plantations, majestic Mysore and the world’s tallest freestanding monolith of Bahubali at Sravanabelagola.

Overnight will be in Bangalore.

Day 15 Bangalore – Home:

Have a leisurely breakfast and proceed for sightseeing.

Government Museum: One of the important buildings, the Government Museum is one of the oldest in India (1886). A special attraction here is “the antiquities from Mohenjodaro period”. Situated nearby the museum is Visveshwaraya Industrial and Technological Museum named after the great engineer-statesman. Next to the VITM is the Visveshwaraya Industrial Trade Center, the first of its kind in India. In addition to its trade promotional activities, the Center has two exhibition floors housing a permanent display of all that is manufactured in Karnataka.

Near the Museum is the K. Venkatappa Art Gallery which has a permanent exhibition of the works of the great artist, K. Venkatappa. The Gallery does much to encourage art in the state.

Lal Bagh: Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The Glass House, modelled along London's Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction in this 2400-acre park. Bi-annual flower shows attracting participants from all over India is held in the Glass House.

Gandhi Bhavan: The Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, housed in the Gandhi Bhavan, houses a comprehensive picture gallery and other exhibits of Gandhiji which depict the life and times of Gandhiji. The Bhavan is open on weekdays (10:30 Am to 5:00 PM).

Vidhana Soubha: This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon park, is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewin.

The Bangalore Palace & Fort: The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple. The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, the foiled windows, battlements and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for it's carving and paintings.

Proceed to the airport for international flight home with sweet memories of India.

The Tour staring with South India Temple Tours which gives you a chance to delve into India’s beliefs, and enjoy the architectural grandeur of temple. The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Kailasanatha [...]

The Tour staring with South India Temple Tours which gives you a chance to delve into India’s beliefs, and enjoy the architectural grandeur of temple. The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Kailasanatha [...]